tally
UK: ˈtæli | US: ˈtæli
n. a record or count of items, scores, or amounts
vt. to count or record something systematically
vi. to correspond or agree (e.g., "their stories tally")
tally = tal<cut> + ly<noun suffix>
- tal<cut>: From Latin talea (twig, stick), referring to notched sticks used for counting.
- ly<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns, often indicating a state or action.
Etymology Origin:
The word "tally" originates from medieval counting practices, where notches were cut (talea) into sticks to record debts or transactions. These sticks were split lengthwise, with each party holding half as proof. Over time, "tally" expanded to mean any systematic record or agreement. The verb sense ("to match") reflects the practice of verifying accounts by reuniting the split sticks.
The final tally showed 120 votes for the proposal.
She kept a tally of expenses in her notebook.
The witness’s statement didn’t tally with the evidence.
The cashier tallied the day’s earnings.
Ancient merchants used wooden tallies for trade records.